Phemex vs Orbix: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Phemex and Orbix This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Phemex

Orbix

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United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

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Phemex is ideal if:

Fast-paced traders value it: With ultra-low latency and deep liquidity, Phemex's high-performance trading engine offers smooth execution and stability.
Tech-savvy users benefit: Advanced tools—like copy trading, bots, and DeFi-style earning products—empower both automation and strategy innovation.
Privacy-conscious users find appeal: Flexible KYC policies and a streamlined onboarding style suit those preferring minimal verification barriers.

Orbix is ideal if:

Streamlined and intuitive platform Orbix prioritizes simplicity and ease of use, with a clean interface, mobile app, and user-friendly tools like Wallet Lock and real-time price alerts.
Strong local credibility in Thailand Regulated by Thailand’s SEC and backed by a prudent coin-selection process, Orbix offers a sense of trust and compliance within its home market.
Layered security for peace of mind Implements advanced measures—such as ISO-certified infrastructure, encryption, and two-factor authentication—to secure user assets and data.

Phemex isn’t ideal if:

Fiat-focused users may face limits: Fiat deposit and withdrawal services are unavailable or heavily restricted in numerous countries, reducing accessibility for those relying on bank transfers.
Newcomers could feel overwhelmed: The platform’s advanced features and high-leverage tools offer power—but may feel complex if you’re new to trading.
Risk-averse investors might be uneasy: Derivatives and high-leverage products carry greater risk, making Phemex less suited to those seeking lower-volatility exposure.

Orbix isn’t ideal if:

Limited asset variety Orbix supports only around 33 cryptocurrencies, which may restrict trading choices compared to more expansive platforms.
No advanced or passive features It currently offers no margin, futures, staking, or copy-trading options, limiting portfolio-building flexibility.
Support delays under pressure While help is available 24/7, response times can lag during peak activity, which could be frustrating in time-sensitive situations.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Spot trading fees start at 0.1% for both maker and taker on the base VIP tier and can decrease via VIP-level benefits tied to trading volume or asset holdings; using the Phemex Token (PT) grants additional discounts—around 20% off spot fees—and those can stack with VIP reductions.

Spot fees are flat, around 0.25% for both maker and taker, with modest volume-based discounts for high-volume traders—no native-token fee reduction program is mentioned.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures (perpetual contracts) begin with a maker fee as low as 0.01% and a taker fee of 0.06%, with lower rates available through VIP status; funding rates vary according to market dynamics and are applied periodically, affecting long or short positions depending on current rates.

Orbix does not offer futures or derivatives trading, so there are no associated maker, taker, or funding costs.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Phemex delivers tight spreads on major spot pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, thanks to deep order-book liquidity and efficient execution, although the exact average spread fluctuates with market conditions and isn’t publicly standardized.

Typical bid–ask spreads hover around 1%, reflecting moderate liquidity even in major pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat deposits are facilitated via third-party gateways such as MoonPay or Banxa, often with fees imposed by those services; withdrawal in fiat is limited or restricted depending on jurisdiction and may incur fixed charges or banking delays driven by external banking partners.

You can deposit via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or crypto—with deposits generally free and fiat withdrawals incurring a small flat fee (e.g., ~20 THB), while processing times range from same day up to a few business days.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals carry network-dependent fees, which vary by chain and congestion

Crypto withdrawals are charged per network, such as a fixed ~0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin, with other chains like Ethereum or TRON likely following similarly static network-based fee structures.

Hidden Costs

Hidden costs may include markups from third-party fiat gateways, potential inactivity penalties (if any), and premium-tier services like expedited KYC—but generally, Phemex avoids additional charges beyond trading, withdrawal, and external service fees.

There are no overt hidden charges to be aware of—standard trading and network fees apply, and there’s no mention of inactivity, express-KYC, or conversion surcharges beyond typical exchange operations.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Example

Buying €500 worth of BTC would incur roughly 0.25% trading fee, a ~1% spread cost, and then a small fixed network withdrawal fee—meaning your €500 results in slightly less BTC plus a minor deduction when withdrawing, all based on standard rates, not promotional or variable offers.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Phemex offers several hundred tradable assets across hundreds of spot and futures pairs; among the top by volume you’ll typically see major pairs like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, XRP/USDT, SOL/USDT, DOGE/USDT, ADA/USDT dominating the leaderboards.

Orbix offers around 33 to 41 cryptocurrencies, with a similar number of trading pairs; the top 20 by volume include major tokens like BTC, ETH, USDT, ADA, DOGE, SOL, XRP, DOT, and others—as reflected in their most traded pairs list.

Product Range

Phemex delivers a wide product mix including spot and margin trading, perpetual futures, automated copy-trading, grid-trading bots (spot and futures), DCA and Martingale bots, essential lending/borrow via margin, plus crypto earn products and launchpad functionality.

Orbix currently supports only spot trading, with no margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking/earn, lending, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA features available.

Liquidity

Phemex sees substantial daily volume usually in the hundreds of millions USD, with order-book depth in BTC and ETH strong enough to support sizable trades without excessive slippage, reflecting healthy active liquidity.

Trading volume is modest—typically in the low six figures (e.g., ~$100K–$600K USD), with average bid-ask spreads around 1%, indicating moderate liquidity in BTC/ETH markets.

Tools

The platform includes full order-type support such as limit, market, stop and OCO orders, real-time alerts, advanced interactive charts powered by TradingView, and robust API with WebSocket for seamless automation and live data.

The platform includes market and limit orders, plus stop-like features (e.g., OCO functionality), along with real-time charts, basic alerts, and public API support—but no native TradingView tool.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain services—especially derivatives—are restricted in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, parts of Canada, China, and other regions, while spot and earn products may remain accessible depending on local laws.

Certain markets—such as the United States, China, Iran, Iraq, and similar regions—may face access restrictions, limiting availability of services in those jurisdictions.

Innovation

Phemex continually expands its ecosystem with launchpad or launchpool-style token sales, and layered earn programs offering both flexible (withdraw anytime) and locked (higher yield) options to fit different investor preferences.

Orbix currently lacks common innovation modules like launchpad, launchpool, flexible vs locked “earn” options, or other high-growth DeFi-style offerings—its design remains focused on core, regulated spot trading.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Phemex began in 2019 and is operated under entities such as Phemex Technology Pte. Ltd. in Singapore and Phemex Limited in the British Virgin Islands, placing it under those legal jurisdictions.

Orbix operates under Orbix Trade Co., Ltd., founded in March 2017, headquartered in Bangkok, and is a subsidiary of Unita Capital within the Kasikornbank group, giving it strong institutional backing.

Licenses/Registration

While Phemex holds an MSB registration with FinCEN in the U.S., it currently lacks MiCA or equivalent EU licensing and is not authorized to operate in several regulated regions.

The exchange is licensed by Thailand’s Ministry of Finance and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand, with full compliance to local regulatory standards for digital asset trading.

Custody

The exchange maintains full custody of user assets and provides a self-verifiable Merkle-tree proof-of-reserves (PoR) tool that shows assets are backed 1

Orbix employs its own custodial infrastructure, including Orbix Custodian (launching in March 2025), offering cold storage using FIPS 140-2 Level 4 HSM encryption via IBM, underscoring their commitment to secure key management.

Insurance & Protection Funds

There is no publicly disclosed insurance or user protection fund; security relies on reserve mechanisms and risk controls but does not include third-party insurance coverage.

The platform maintains insured custody under its regulated framework, but there’s no mention of third-party insurance or dedicated protection funds beyond insuring client assets under its regulated operations.

Incident History

Phemex has not reported any major hacks, though it temporarily suspended a hot-wallet after an internal security review; it also faced regulatory scrutiny in Canada and the UK for compliance issues.

There have been no major publicized security breaches, trading suspensions, asset freezes, or regulatory fines, suggesting a clean operational record to date under SEC supervision.

Risk Controls

Users benefit from standard safeguards including mandatory two-factor authentication, IP or address whitelists, anti-phishing protection, segregated sub-accounts, and granular API permission controls.

Orbix deploys strong safeguards including two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, cold storage, regular penetration testing, and security auditing, offering robust protection for user accounts and assets.

Transparency

Phemex offers monthly-updated PoR data, public disclosure of partial cold wallet addresses, and reserve ratios, demonstrating a commitment to transparency though without formal SLAs or comprehensive monthly financial reports.

While detailed monthly reports or SLA commitments aren’t publicly emphasized, the platform underscores its adherence to ISO standards (ISO 27001, 27701, 22301) and regulated oversight, helping offer transparency through established operational benchmarks.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Phemex supports fiat deposits via bank transfers (SWIFT, SEPA, ACH, FPS) and third-party services like MoonPay or Banxa; minimums generally start around $50, maximums reach very high limits, and processing typically takes from instant (via e-wallet) to 1–3 business days for transfers.

Orbix supports Thai Baht deposits primarily via bank (wire) transfers; deposit times range from under 24 h for domestic transfers to up to 7 days for international ones, and credit/debit card or e-wallet options are not supported.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

There are three user tiers

Identity verification is required via mobile (facial recognition/K+ authentication), without publicly segmented tiers; full KYC unlocks standard fiat and crypto functionality, though precise tier levels and limits aren’t disclosed.

Withdrawals

limits, times, networks (TRC20/ERC20/BEP20, etc.)

Withdrawals can be made across supported blockchains with network-based fees and minimums per asset; processing typically follows established manual and blockchain confirmation workflows, with no explicit per-network limit or speed details published.

Customer Support

chat 24/7, email, response times, knowledge base

Orbix provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, phone, and ticketing, with a help-center/FAQ section and responsive but occasionally delayed assistance during peak periods.

Languages & Localization

The platform’s interface and support are primarily in English, with fees typically shown in USD or equivalent fiat; some content and interfaces are localized for major regions, though comprehensive local regulation compliance varies by jurisdiction.

The platform is fully localized in Thai and English, displays fees and balances in THB, and aligns its interface and compliance with local Thai regulatory expectations.

App Quality & Stability

The Phemex mobile app is generally regarded as stable and regularly updated, offering seamless feature parity with desktop—though exact crash rates aren’t disclosed, user feedback reflects a smooth, reliable experience.

The Orbix mobile app is designed to be intuitive and stable, featuring real-time price alerts, Wallet Lock with facial verification, and ongoing performance improvements—user feedback indicates it is generally smooth with minimal crashes.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

The platform offers a clean, intuitive interface with a low entry barrier for newcomers, while also featuring an advanced “Pro” layout tailored to seasoned users that surfaces more chart tools and analytics—all accessible without overwhelming either group.

Orbix features an intuitive, beginner-friendly interface with a single, consistent mode rather than separate “Lite” or “Pro” versions—allowing most users to get started quickly without complexity.

Performance

Known for its fast order execution and robust infrastructure, Phemex handles volatility with minimal downtime, though during peak surges KYC and account approval may experience slight delays—performance remains solid overall.

The platform is engineered for fast order execution with no notable downtimes during volatile periods; KYC processing remains generally steady even during strong market rallies, maintaining a smooth user flow.

Education

Phemex Academy offers a rich library of beginner-to-advanced tutorials, while a fully functional Testnet simulator lets users practice trading risk-free; however, Spanish-language educational materials are limited or not as comprehensive.

While Orbix offers timely crypto updates and tutorials through its blog, it does not provide a dedicated academy, demo accounts, or Spanish-language materials—leaning more on straightforward guides rather than structured educational programs.

Community

Users can join lively communities via Telegram or Discord, participate in referral programs offering significant bonus pools and commissions, and access forums where updates and peer tips circulate regularly.

Orbix actively fosters a Thai-based community via social media and support channels, provides 24/7 chat support, and runs referral promotions, but it does not operate an official Discord or Telegram discussion group.

Integrations

Phemex’s interface embeds native TradingView charts, supports integration with external bot frameworks, and appeals to algorithmic traders via API access, though dedicated tax or accounting tool integrations are limited.

The platform delivers essential tools like real-time charts and API access but lacks deeper integrations such as TradingView embedding, external trading bots, or dedicated tax/accounting support.

Who Each One Is Best For

Phemex stands out for active, tech-savvy or algorithmic traders seeking powerful tools, automation access, and derivatives options; it’s less ideal for ultra-beginners or those requiring local-language education or deep tax integrations.

Orbix is best suited for casual or entry-level crypto traders in Thailand—especially those seeking a regulated, secure platform with straightforward functionality and minimal complexity.